How a mother raises her baby
It’s like our development is in reality a process of pruning.
Like the gardener watches the flower periodically and cuts off the shoot that’s out of line;

This morning in commute with another passenger who had a baby, most of her conversation with her child (I guess between 8 – 12 months old) at least for the moment I experienced was several warnings and cautions. Phrases like, ‘Ki lo nse e?” (What’s wrong with you?), Ti mba gba e nidi o (I’ll soon smack your butt!) flowed incessantly from her lips.

Apparently, she wasn’t threatening the child, she was definitely well-meaning and it was in the best interest of the child to adhere. But on experiencing this scene, I began to think about this pattern of development during childhood.

A ceaseless throng of corrections, more like sharp orders which the child grows accustomed to.

“Don’t do that!”,
“Come back here!”,
“No, you’re not going!”
“Sit down now!”

Blacks are relatively more physical with their children.

This is just the situation I observed, and I’m wondering if this pattern of raising kids has any limiting effects on the children in the long run.

This pattern definitely produces well disciplined kids who respect their elders (some exceptions though), but I’m wondering if something else has been traded right from the onset.

Does this pattern have any direct links to adults who are indifferent about change and innovation, satisfied with statusquo, or afraid to confront situations.

Are we trading the development of a confident posture of innovation, bravery and pro-activeness to simply maintain the pattern our parents were trained with.

Is there any link?

I’m drawing no conclusions on this thought as to whether this is right or not.
I’m just observing.